Sliding doors



J. SCHARGE SLIDING DOORS June 30, 1964 Filed July 30, 1962 INVENTOR.

JACK SCHARGE. BY M United States Patent 3,138,830 SLIDING DOORS Jack Scharge, 3505 NW. 23rd Ave, Miami, Fla. Filed July 30, 1962, Ser. No. 213,463 Claims. (Cl. 20-19) This invention relates generally to the art of door closures and is more particularly directed to sliding doors adapted to assume closed positions in side by side relationship with their outer surfaces flush with each other and wtih the supporting structure.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide sliding doors for cabinets, closets, medicine chests and the like, which are flush with the outer surfaces of the cabinet, etc. thereby presenting a very neat and attractive appearance.

Another object of the present invention is to provide sliding doors for cabinets and the like, which are flush with each other in a closed position, easy to install and very readily slide to their open and closed positions.

A further object of the present invention is to provide flush sliding doors for cabinets and the like which does not require the usual hardware for opening and closing the doors and which may be readily removed from the cabinet when necessary for cleaning or painting the cabinet and doors.

With these and other objects in view, the invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawing but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective fragmentary drawing of a cabinet having two sliding doors shown in their closed position.

FIGURES 2 and 3 are cross sectional views taken along the lines 22 and 3-3 respectively of FIGURE 1 with one of the doors shown in a partly open position in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view similar to FIGURE 2 and showing the sliding doors in an open position.

FIGURE 5 is an exploded view of an upper roller bracket assembly.

Referring to the drawing wherein like numerals are used to designate similar parts throughout the several views, the numeral 1!) refers to a typical cabinet having an opening 13 which is enclosed by two sliding doors 11 constructed in accordance with my invention. When the doors 11 are in their closed position, they are flush with each other and with the outer surfaces 12 of the cabinet as best shown by FIGURES 1 and 2.

The doors 11 slide along an overhead slot 14 and in a base slot 15 formed in the frame of the cabinet 10 at the opening 13. The overhead slot 14 inclines downwardly to the rear thereof, while the base slot 15 inclines upwardly toward the rear surface of the front walls 12. At the position of the overhead slot 14 there is a depending portion 112 which extends downwardly a short distance, while the base slot 15 is provided with a front ice shoulder 16 and a rear shoulder 17 whose functions are described in detail hereinafter.

Mounted in the overhead slot 14 is a track 13 fastened thereto by screws 19. The track 18 is provided with downwardly inclined edge portions 20 and 21 which function in the same manner as the shoulders 16 and 17 of the base slot 15.

Means are provided to permit the sliding of the doors 11 and compelling them to assume an aligned or flush position when closed comprising lower and upper roller brackets 22 and 27 respectively which extend across ap proximately the full width of the doors 11. The lower bracket 22 is of L-shaped cross section consisting of a base plate 25, a vertical plate 23 and a guide flange 24 extending away from the foot of the vertical plate 23. The vertical plate 23 is fastened by screws 41 to the inner surface of the doors 11 while the base plate 25 is provided with bores for receiving spherical rollers 26. The bottom edges of the doors 11 are provided with semi-spherical slots 42 for receiving the spherical rollers 26 which roll in the slot 15. The outer edge of the flange 24 of the brackets 22 bear against the rollers 26 to prevent the doors 11 from contacting or rubbing against each other as the doors 11 are slid from their closed to the open position and vice versa.

The upper roller bracket assembly 27 is somewhat similar in construction to the lower roller bracket 24, being L-shaped in cross section and consisting of a vertical plate 28 joined at its upper edge to a horizontally disposed roller support member 30 extending in one direction and a flange 29 extending in the opposite direction. The assembly 27 is fastened to the rear surface of the doors 11 by screws 41 extending through elongated bores 40 formed in the vertical members 23. This construction permits vertical movement of the assembly 27, which movement is caused by coil springs 36 as is explained hereinafter. The roller support member 30 is provided with circular openings 31 and a plurality of slots 32 positioned about the openings 31. The circular openings 31 receive spherical rollers 39 which are supported by semi-spherical support members 37 mounted on the top end of a stem 35. The stems 35 are slidably positioned in bores 33 formed in the top edge of the doors 11 with enlarged bores 43 extending to the top edge of the doors 11 for receiving the lower portion of the coil springs 36 which encircle the stems 35. The upper ends of the coil springs 36 engage the semi-circular roller supports 37 to yieldingly force the latter in an upward direction. The semi-circular roller supports 37 are provided with upwardly extending prongs 38 which are received by the slots 32 for maintaining the roller support 37 and the spherical rollers 39 in their proper operating positions at all times. It is to be noted that the inner edges of the flanges 29 will bear against the spherical rollers 39 when one of the doors 11 is behind the other to prevent the doors 11 from touching or scraping each other as they are made to slide along each other.

The insertion of the doors 11 in the opening 13 of the cabinet 10 is rather readily accomplished as is the removal of the doors 11. To insert same, one of the doors 11 is placed before the opening 13 in a tilted position with the upper spherical rollers 39 in contact with the track 18. Grasping the lower edge of the door 11 with one hand, an upward force is applied to cause the coil spring to be compressed and the roller support bracket 37 made to slide downwardly to its lowermost position. The top portion of the door 11 is now forced to the rear of the track 18 permitting the lower spherical rollers 26 to clear the lower edge of the opening 13. When the lower portion of the door 11 is positioned in the track 15, the door 11 is released and the coil spring 36 will cause the spherical rollers 26 and 39 to roll forwardly to the high or forward portions of the tracks and 18.

With one door 11 in position within the opening 13, the second door 11 is placed in the opening that is remaining. Again the upper portion of the door 11 is tilted inwardly to place the spherical rollers 39 in the rear portion of the track 18. An upward force on the lower edge of the door 11 will cause the coil springs 36 to be compressed and the roller support bracket 27 to slide to its lowermost position. The lower edge of the door 11 will now clear the lower edge of the opening 13 and by pushing inwardly on the lower portion of the door 11, the latter will slide inwardly until the spherical rollers 26 will engage the track 15. Again, when the door 11 which has just been inserted into the opening 13 is released, the coil springs 36 will cause the door 11 to slide forwardly in the tracks 15 and 18 to assume an aligned and flush position with the first door 11.

To gain access to the inside of the cabinet 10, all one needs to do is apply a force against the door 11 that is to be opened, which will then slide to the rear of the track 18 and the slot 15. The upper roller supporting bracket 27 will slide downwardly against the spring pressure 36 to permit the rollers 26 and 39 to engage the rear shoulders 17 and 21 respectively, and the edges of the flanges 24 and 29. This door 11 is now out of alignment with the other door 11 and in position to slide behind the other door 11 to open the opening 13. To return the opened door 11 to its closed position, either of the doors 11 is slid to the open portion of the opening 13. As soon as the door is at the position of the open portion of the opening, the rollers 26 and 39 will no longer be in contact relation with the edges of the flanges 24 and 29. The door 11 will now slide forwardly in the slots 15 and 18 by virtue of the spring pressure 36 which causes the rollers 26 and 18 to roll towards the high points in the slot 15 and track 18. When the spherical rollers 26 and 39 engage the forward shoulders 16 and respectively, the door 11 will be in aligned position with the other door 11 and be flush with the front of the cabinet 10.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A cabinet and the like having a front wall and an opening in said front wall, a depending portion extending downwardly at the upper portion of said opening, said front wall having inclined slotted portions at said upper and lower portion of said opening, said slotted portions being furthest apart at their forward portion, shoulder means mounted at the forward and rear portions of said slotted portions, a plurality of sliding doors positioned in said opening, said doors lying in a plane substantially flush with said front wall, said slot ted portions being of such width to receive said doors in overlapping relation, each of said doors having a roller supporting bracket mounted on the lower edge, spherical rollers mounted on said brackets engaging said lower slotted portion, bracket means slidably mounted on the upper edge of each of said doors, a plurality of spherical rollers mounted on said bracket means and engaging said upper slotted portion rearwardly extending flange means mounted on said bracket and said bracket means engaging said spherical rollers of an overlapping door and preventing said doors from engaging each other, resilient means engaging said bracket means and yield ingly urging said spherical rollers in contact relation with said slotted portions and compelling said doors to slide forwardly in said inclined slotted portions whereby adjacent doors being positioned out of overlapping relation with each other, one of said doors will slide forwardly in said slots into coplanar relation with the other of said doors.

2. A cabinet and the like having a front wall and an opening in said front wall, a depending portion extending downwardly at the upper portion of said opening, said front wall having inclined slotted portions at said upper and lower portion of said opening, said slotted portions being farthest apart at their forward portion, shoulder means mounted at the forward and rear portions of said slotted portions, a plurality of sliding doors positioned in said opening, each of said doors having a roller supporting bracket mounted on the lower edge, spherical rollers mounted on said brackets engaging said lower slotted portions, said upper edge of said doors having a plurality of vertically disposed bores, said bores being enlarged at the upper portion, a second bracket positioned at said upper edge of said doors, said second bracket being L- shaped and having leg portions at substantially right angle to each other, one of said leg portions having elongated slots, fastening means extending through said slots permitting sliding movement of said bracket, the other of said leg portions having circular openings, a spherical roller positioned in each of said circular openings, roller support members engaging said other of said leg portions and receiving said spherical rollers, a stem secured at one end to each of said roller support members and slidably mounted in said vertically disposed bores, a coil spring encircling each of said stems and yieldingly urging said second brackets outwardly, said spherical rollers in contact relation with said upper slotted portion and compelling said doors to slide forwardly in said inclined slotted portions.

3. The structure as recited by claim 2 taken in combination with flange portions mounted on each of said first and second brackets and extending in a rearward direction adapted to engage said spherical rollers of the other sliding door when positioned behind said sliding door.

4. A sliding door for cabinets and the like having upper and lower edge portions, said lower edge portion having a plurality of semi-spherical openings, an L-shaped bracket secured to said lower edge portion of said door, said bracket having openings in alignment with said semispherical openings, spherical rollers mounted in said bracket and received by said openings and said semispherical openings in said door, said upper edge of said door having a plurality of vertically disposed bores, said bores being enlarged at the upper portion, a second bracket positioned at said upper edge of said door, said second bracket being L-shaped and having leg portions at substantially right angle to each other, one of said leg portions having elongated slots, fastening means extending through said slots permitting sliding movement of said bracket, the other of said leg portions having circular openings, a spherical roller positioned in each of said circular openings, roller support members engaging said other of said leg portions and receiving said spherical rollers, a stem secured at one end to each of said roller support members and slidably mounted in said vertically disposed bores, a coil spring encircling each of said stems and yieldingly urging said spherical rollers and said second bracket in an outward direction.

5. A sliding door for cabinets and the like having upper and lower edge portions, said lower edge portion having a plurality of semi-spherical openings, an L-shaped bracket secured to said lower edge portion of said door, said bracket having openings in alignment with said semispherical openings, spherical rollers mounted in said bracket and received by said openings and said semispherical openings in said door, said bracket having a flange portion extending in a direction away from said door, said upper edge of said door having a plurality of vertically disposed bores, said bores being enlarged at the upper portion, a second bracket positioned at said upper edge of said door, said second bracket being L-shaped and having leg portions at substantially right angle to each other and a flange portion extending in a direction away from said door, one of said leg portions having elongated slots, fastening means extending through said slots permitting sliding movement of said bracket, the other of said leg portions having circular openings, a spherical roller positioned in each of said circular openings, roller support members engaging said other of said leg portions and receiving said spherical rollers, a stem secured at one end to each of said roller support members and slidably mounted in said vertically disposed bores, a coil spring encircling each of said stems and yieldingly urging said spherical rollers and said second bracket in an out- 5 Ward direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A CABINET AND THE LIKE HAVING A FRONT WALL AND AN OPENING IN SAID FRONT WALL, A DEPENDING PORTION EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY AT THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID OPENING, SAID FRONT WALL HAVING INCLINED SLOTTED PORTIONS AT SAID UPPER AND LOWER PORTION OF SAID OPENING, SAID SLOTTED PORTIONS BEING FURTHEST APART AT THEIR FORWARD PORTION, SHOULDER MEANS MOUNTED AT THE FORWARD AND REAR PORTIONS OF SAID SLOTTED PORTIONS, A PLURALITY OF SLIDING DOORS POSITIONED IN SAID OPENING, SAID DOORS LYING IN A PLANE SUBSTANTIALLY FLUSH WITH SAID FRONT WALL, SAID SLOTTED PORTIONS BEING OF SUCH WIDTH TO RECEIVE SAID DOORS IN OVERLAPPING RELATION, EACH OF SAID DOORS HAVING A ROLLER SUPPORTING BRACKET MOUNTED ON THE LOWER EDGE, SPHERICAL ROLLERS MOUNTED ON SAID BRACKETS ENGAGING SAID LOWER SLOTTED PORTION, BRACKET MEANS SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON THE UPPER EDGE OF EACH OF SAID DOORS, A PLURALITY OF SPHERICAL ROLLERS MOUNTED ON SAID BRACKET MEANS AND ENGAGING SAID UPPER SLOTTED PORTION REARWARDLY EXTENDING FLANGE MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID BRACKET AND SAID BRACKET MEANS ENGAGING SAID SPHERICAL ROLLERS OF AN OVERLAPPING DOOR AND PREVENTING SAID DOORS FROM ENGAGING EACH OTHER, RESILIENT MEANS ENGAGING SAID BRACKET MEANS AND YIELDINGLY URGING SAID SPHERICAL ROLLERS IN CONTACT RELATION WITH SAID SLOTTED PORTIONS AND COMPELLING SAID DOORS TO SLIDE FORWARDLY IN SAID INCLINED SLOTTED PORTIONS WHEREBY ADJACENT DOORS BEING POSITIONED OUT OF OVERLAPPING RELATION WITH EACH OTHER, ONE OF SAID DOORS WILL SLIDE FORWARDLY IN SAID SLOTS INTO COPLANAR RELATION WITH THE OTHER OF SAID DOORS. 